Trump to impose unity government on Israel? - Reports claim US president pushing for government without controversial ministers

As Israelis prepare for what could be weeks of coalition negotiations, following the closing of elections Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly hoping to influence the makeup of that coalition.

Trump is interested in a unity government that does not include controversial figures, such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and possibly Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Walla News reported Wednesday.

The U.S. president believes that support for extremist settler groups by the two coalition ministers harms his regional vision for expanded partnerships between Israel and Arab countries, the report claims, citing “American sources.”

Walla News said that Trump has been following the Israeli elections closely and does not feel that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s current coalition government can return to power.

Instead, the president hopes to see a unity government, possibly involving opposition challenger Gadi Eisenkot of the Yasher party, along with Together party leader Naftali Bennett.

According to Maariv, one option is for a rotational agreement, with Netanyahu continuing as prime minister for one year, followed by Eisenkot and Bennett.

Maariv pointed to recent comments by Trump political supporter Bill Ackman, who recently said that “Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have caused Israel enormous reputational damage with their statements and actions which are presented in the global media as representing the voice and will of all Israelis.”

In a post to his social media account, Ackman said: “A government formed without Ben-Gvir and Smotrich will send a message to the rest of the world that Israel is turning a new page.”

“This will allow Israel to rebuild lost credibility, increase the opportunity for an expansion of the Abraham Accords, and enjoy a better relationship with Democrats and Republicans and Americans at large,” Ackman concluded, expressing a common U.S. view that the two politicians are a principal cause of tensions preventing other Arab governments from entering the Abraham Accords.

Ben Gvir himself responded to a similar report in Israel Hayom, which claimed that Netanyahu had agreed to pursue a unity government without his party.

The minister posted a screenshot of the article to his social media account on Tuesday morning, and encouraged his supporters to get out and vote.

בוקר טוב עם ישראל, לצערי העמוק, זו החשיפה הבוקר של העיתון ‘ישראל היום׳: רה״מ נתניהו התחייב לממשל האמריקאי להקים לאחר הבחירות ממשלת אחדות עם איזנקוט ובלי בן גביר. המתווה כולל חתימת הסדרים מדיניים והענקת חנינה לנתניהו מנשיא המדינה אם אתם רוצים בן גביר חזק בממשלה, ולא בן גביר קטן באופוזיציה, אני חייב את התמיכה שלכם בקלפי. בבקשה שימו ב׳ בקלפי!

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) October 27, 2026

In a post to 𝕏, Ben-Gvir claimed that Netanyahu had “promised the US administration that, following the election, he would form a unity government with Gadi Eisenkot – and without Ben-Gvir.”

“If you want a strong Ben Gvir in the government, and not a small Ben Gvir in the opposition, I need your support at the ballot box,” he wrote.

The report in Israel Hayom, which cited a story in the Washington Post, claimed that the U.S. government was pushing for a strong unity government in which Netanyahu could serve a two year term, finishing alongside President Trump, while receiving a pardon in the criminal cases for which he is on trial from Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected the claims in a post of his own.

“How many times are you going to keep repeating this trick?” Netanyahu said, responding to Ben Gvir on 𝕏.

However, several pro-Israel accounts pushed back against the idea that Ben Gvir and Smotrich are responsible for Israel’s public relations problems.

Dan Burmawi, a Jordanian convert to Christianity, who has been an outspoken Israel supporter since Oct. 7, 2023, said that socialist-Islamist alliance would never accept Israel.

“Even if Israel formed a government of Mother Teresas, as long as Israel defends itself, the Islamo-left alliance and the woke Reich will find a reason to attack it,” Burmawi wrote on 𝕏.

Even if Israel formed a government of Mother Teresas, as long as Israel defends itself, the Islamo-left alliance and the woke Reich will find a reason to attack it. The only way for Israel to rebuild its reputation would be to bow down to slaughter, and even then, the Jew-haters would say the Jews are reaping what they sow.

— Dan Burmawi (@DanBurmawy) October 25, 2026

Ackman himself later shared a post by Gilad Zwick, a former communications advisor to Netanyahu, who posted a response to Ackman’s previous post.

“A balanced and insightful perspective on the election,” Ackman wrote. “Worth a read.”

A balanced and insightful perspective on the election. Worth a read.

— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) October 26, 2026

Dr. Kobby Barda, a senior researcher with the Jewish People Policy Institute, said that if there is a failure to reach a unity government agreement, Netanyahu, Eisenkot, and Bennett, could be “summoned to the White House.”

Barda said that Trump is insistent on trying to achieve an expansion of the Abraham Accords before he leaves office, in order to secure a legacy as a peacemaker.

Barda also suggested that Trump could sweeten the deal for Netanyahu by suggesting he be granted the role of Israeli president after the term of Isaac Herzog, along with a pardon from Herzog in the corruption cases.

This role would allow Netanyahu to continue to influence Israeli politics, as the president has the task of choosing the party to form a government after elections.